Page 128 of Best Summer Ever

‘Meeting?’ Nick frowned, sounding concerned. ‘I thought this was a social occasion. Is everything all right, Algy?’

We all looked at him expectantly.

‘Perhaps meeting isn’t quite the right word,’ suggested Josh. ‘We’re hoping it will be more of an exchange of ideas and a sharing of plans rather than anything… formal.’

A hush fell over the group and we all took a seat at the table.

‘Well,’ said Mum, with a nod to the packed platters, ‘whatever it is, let’s eat first, shall we? I haven’t been working in that kitchen all afternoon for everything to go to waste.’

‘I’d better just check on Luna,’ said Algy, standing up.

‘She’s curled up on your office chair and she’s fine,’ said Dad, who I hadn’t realised had followed her inside to make sure she was all right. ‘Let’s eat.’

Everyone dug in heartily and, with the addition of some very lovely wine that Algy had brought up from the cellar, we all began to relax again.

‘Now,’ said Algy, once everyone’s plates had been cleared and a few glasses of rosé, red or white had been enjoyed, ‘let’s get this… non-meeting… launched, shall we?’

We all looked at him expectantly and I thought what a relief it was to already know that Wynbrook was in safe hands, otherwise we would all have been on the edge of our seats with trepidation.

‘Quite a few of us sitting around this table,’ Algy continued, looking at each of us in turn, ‘have gone through some pretty phenomenal changes this summer and I thought it would be lovely to get us all together to celebrate them—’

‘Hear, hear,’ Dad interrupted and Mum hiccupped.

Josh looked at me and grinned. Perhaps some of us had enjoyed more than a few glasses of the wine. That said, my parents weren’t big drinkers, so even two for them would have been enough to warrant impromptu toasts and hiccups.

‘And also, to share anything else that might be about to come to fruition as a result of those changes,’ Algy continued and I noticed Penny’s cheeks were crimson again. ‘I know Josh has an inspired idea up his sleeve and I’m guessing Daisy has too.’

‘Me?’ I gasped, when I realised my name had been mentioned.

‘Yes.’ Algy smiled. ‘Tell us, my dear, what you’ve got in mind for expanding Wynbrook Blooms next year. I know you will have given it some thought and I’m very much hoping that you’ll take the role of manager on full-time and carry the venture even further.’

I looked at him and swallowed. It was going to be hard to talk over the lump in my throat, but I was excited to give it a go.

‘Really?’ I whispered.

‘Really.’ Algy nodded. ‘You’ve already proved the idea has got legs and there’s no one I’d like to run my passion project more than you, Daisy, Daisy.’

‘In that case,’ I said delightedly, ‘I’d love to make it my passion project too. And expand it.’

‘Go on,’ Algy encouraged.

‘Well, I have been thinking and I’m hoping there’ll be somewhere on the estate that we can turn over to growing a lot more flowers, which will make it a far bigger venture.’

Algy nodded in approval.

‘And,’ I felt inspired to continue, ‘following Dad’s lead with his new-found love of learning,’ he’d now told everyone about the access course to his degree that he was currently undertaking, ‘I’d like to go to college. Perhaps study floristry or horticulture on a part-time basis, so I can fit it in with running Wynbrook Blooms.’

‘I think that sounds like a wonderful idea,’ Dad said tearfully.

‘So do I,’ Algy agreed.

‘I’ve been thinking about running workshops too – eventually,’ I laughed. ‘I know I’m getting ahead of myself, but once I have the knowledge, that might be an interesting progression to the business. Oh, and dried flowers,’ I blurted, getting further carried away on the wave of enthusiasm for my new life. ‘I’m thinking about trialling dried flowers too.’

‘The old barn would be ideal to hold workshops in and dry the flowers,’ Nick said, nodding. ‘And it shouldn’t take too much work to convert it for that, should it?’

I was thrilled he sounded so keen, as utilising the barn would put us in much closer working proximity.

‘I wouldn’t have thought it would take much at all,’ said Algy. ‘Well done, Daisy. You’ve certainly grown my idea since I first mentioned it to your dad.’

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